By Isaac Anumihe
Federal Government, yesterday, said that Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) has been able to reduce its running cost by over 50 per cent in one year, and significantly improved revenue generation and remittance to the Federal Government.
Speaking on the occasion to mark the birthday of the Director General of NIMASA, Dr. Dakuku Peterside, in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, at the weekend, Minister of Transportation, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi, said that this achievement was mainly due to the reliable and transparent disposition of the current management team of the agency, which is driven and spurred by Peterside.
He recalled that the Minister of Finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun, and the Federal Executive Council (FEC) had earlier declared the agency as the highest revenue-remitting agency in Nigeria.
“By their character, we shall know them. I remember when I was told that Dakuku will be a sell-out when we were vying for governorship under Dr. Peter Odili. Today, he is the only one remaining among those I can call my political allies. NIMASA has reduced running cost significantly and improved revenue generation to the Federal Government simply because the man, Dakuku, is not corrupt. He is not greedy, and he is a contented fellow. He is a transparent character and fits perfectly well within the common agenda of the current national government,” Amaechi said.
He commended Peterside for his turnaround and re-engineering strategies and efforts in NIMASA, noting that his appointment has given a facelift to not just the agency but the maritime sector with NIMASA now attracting commendation from the Federal Government through the Minister of Finance and FEC as the highest revenue-remitting agency in Nigeria.
Also speaking, the Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki described Peterside as a statesman in the making, considering his antecedents in politics and public service.
“I followed him (Peterside) during his campaigns and I saw the passion and energy he exuded. He really showed that he had what it takes to govern the state.”
Today the narrative at NIMASA has changed simply because the appointment of the Director General is a round peg in a round hole” Obaseki, said, while commending the NIMASA DG for associating the agency with good and positive new narratives.
The governor, however, regretted that Rivers State lost a great opportunity to tap into his managerial acumen, prowess and development-oriented policies.
The Edo Governor was however quick to add that the state has another opportunity to give Peterside a chance to change the state for the better as 2019 beckons.